Cancer Survivor, writing about Health and Fitness as you age

Maybe because of the time of the year, you know, looking back and looking ahead, I find myself wondering what do I want to be and do when I grow up? (Somehow I think though that "be-ing" and "do-ing" may be worthy of its own blog post.) That is one of the advantages of being in the work-optional stage that I am in now, I can think about these things. (And by work-optional I am optimistically choosing to believe that it is my choice, but considering the climate...well..) Anyway, back to my story, if I wanted to work, I wouldn't have to get a job based on my experience or what it pays. I could just choose something I wanted to do, do anything to start and work my way up (and yes, "up" is what I would do, because that is how I am). The question is, what would I do if I could do anything I wanted to? I am terribly afraid that I would squander any time that became available by working on my project list. I want to do more grandiose things, like change t

Originally I thought of calling this post "Lord, help me get through the day", but then I thought the issue isn't so much as the days being hard, just very, very long. Since Lucas is home for the Christmas holidays, I don't get a break when Liam sleeps (I'm busy entertaining Lucas). That coupled with the fact that Liam is back to waking up at 5:00am is enough to do me in. I've tried to do something with them every day, so they are both busy and today was grocery-shopping. Lucas was very helpful. He was bringing in a gallon of milk from the car and it slipped, cracked half open and spilled everywhere in the garage (at least not inside!). Our neighbor had to conduct an emergency evacuation of her baby since he had wandered over to check out what we were doing and he is allergic to..well..anything you can think of. In short, milk everywhere was not good for him. I had cleverly put a load of baby clothes in the wash before we went to the grocery and Lucas helpfull

So every year Lucas' school has a "giving tree" where they put up a Christmas tree with ornaments and each ornament is a "wish item" from a needy family/child. You could select an ornament and provide the item for the family. We selected one this year (again). I remember last year thinking that I wanted to include a note apologizing that they got us. This year, I felt no different. You'd think that having had one year to sort this out in my head I'd be better about what I give and to whom. Why the turmoil you ask? Here's the story. When I look at the gifts that other people have given, the wrapping alone is sooo fabulous that I can only imagine what is inside (and no...the wrapping is unlikely to be the only fantastic thing about the gift). We only have so much charity funds to give out and sometimes I wonder if we didn't select an ornament, would someone else have selected it? And given something better? Every year I agonize about this ch

So, Gunnar's CFA exam is finished, whoo hoo! He's not sure how he did...not so whoo hoo..but that is all done for now and I have a husband again. But back to my rest day. I usually set aside Mondays as my "free day", I don't plan on any major activities but I think because I don't go out much on my rest day, lots of "stuff" seems to happen on Mondays. This past Monday, is just another example. I had gotten into the habit of letting Liam sit on his baby potty, (in our bathroom right outside the toilet) whenever I went potty. He was always in his clothes and diaper, so this Monday gone I decided that since he was sitting anyway, I'll just take his diaper off and see if anything happens. I bet you're thinking, "big mistake!", well, that actually wasn't the big mistake. Anyways, after a while he got bored and came off and then had trouble sitting back down again and since I was ..er...indisposed (see opening lines of this parag

This week I decided to switch Liam from 2 naps/day to 1 longer nap around noon. The fact that Gunnar was not home seemed to wreak havoc with Liam. Gunnar has been out studying very hard for his CFA exam and since babies can just smell any change in routine, there was just too much drama to get him to take 2 naps. It started off pretty well Wednesday, he took a long nap, and went down at night a little easier than he had been...and then it's been downhill since. Yesterday he only slept 45 minutes and was up in the night. It took me 2 hours to get him back to sleep (and me an additional 45 minutes), so I was not very happy this morning. Fortunately, the babysitter came over, so after some time alone in the car with some Bob Marley and tea, and away from the object of my frustration, all was well in my world again. I am so easy to please. The exam that Gunnar is taking tomorrow has been difficult on all of us, particularly the last 2 weeks when he was traveling. It is tough being t

Yes, the dreaded question...What is new with me? Sad to say, nothing much. I got this question from an ex-colleague earlier this week (you know who you are Tony), and while mortifying to answer, at least I still have working friends who deign to give me a call now and then. I have accepted that it may only be a matter of time before the bonds of friendship get weakened without the cement of commiserating over our work or child-rearing travails, but I have hope. I do have one friendship that has endured. This, despite the fact that my friend doesn't have children, is a professional career woman, and I've only seen her once in 4 years since we moved states. So why is that? I've mulled it over in my head and in my usually insightful self, I have concluded that despite the fact that our conversations have been about many things, the essence of our discussions have largely been about one thing - relationships. Our respective relationships with our careers, bosses, spouse

Over the last 5 days at home, Lucas was up at his usual early time, even as early as 5:45 am one morning! I guess it is no surprise that on his first day back to school after the Thanksgiving break he decided to sleep in. I eventually got him out at 6:40 am and he wasn't happy. No matter because I was on to other things. While I was hurrying to make breakfast for everyone so we could get out the door on time, Liam got into the Costco-sized black pepper container. Fortunately, he got it on his hands and over his head, but miraculously, not in his eyes. Poor baby, he had to endure an early morning head-dousing in the kitchen sink for his antics. Lucas ended up sneezing up a storm because he went in for a closer look to see what Liam did....Why are children (boys?) so? And my day is only just begun?! Holy cow! After Liam's morning nap, we made a quick trip to Costco (not for more black pepper mind you). Unfortunately, I hadn't realized Liam had pooped (in my defense, I ch